Hot Dawg 30k - Doing most install myself and progress!

[woodfirenewbie]

So, sh*t's expensive right now. $1100 for a Reznor 30k, $770 for a Sterling 30k, $860 for a Modine 30k.

I opted for the Modine. Now I have hanger mount vibration isolators, unistrut, 3/8 all thread and hardware, tstat and wiring, horizontal stainless venting and this 66lb chunk of natural gas engineering on the way to our house in Minneapolis.

While waiting for all this to arrive, I called Modine tech support just to see how responsive they'd be if/when I eventually have a problem. Surprise, they won't talk to me unless I'm an "authorized installer". I guess they don't have much faith in our ability to execute their own detailed instructions, so now I am left with getting someone to put this thing in.

Unfortunately, the places I've called are quoting between $2500 and $3500 even with me supplying literally everything besides the gas line fittings. We have the 1/2" NG line already run to the finished insulated garage and a 50A sub panel that I'd run to the unit thru EMT conduit with THHN wiring on a dedicated circuit, so there is nothing complicated or difficult about this install. The garage is 32x26-ish with 9' ceilings and everything is "right there", so to speak..

What's a homeowner to do? I think it would be foolhardy to do everything myself and miss out on the 10-year HX warranty. The parts in these don't leave me feeling as confident as the Rinnai EX22 in our four-season room. Are labor and installation of these units really that much more expensive than they were a few years ago?

 

[gmcgeo]

welcome to 2022, where we pay out the rear for everything.

As long as its installed per manufacture spec you will be able to keep warranty in place.

 

[K13]

Or they have enough on their plate to deal with without some fool who hasn't even received their product calling the tech line to test it out so they blew you off so they could spend their time on people with actual problems.

 

[woodfirenewbie]

welcome to 2022, where we pay out the rear for everything.

As long as its installed per manufacture spec you will be able to keep warranty in place.

Thank you, I wish this were the case, but......

Or they have enough on their plate to deal with without some fool who hasn't even received their product calling the tech line to test it out so they blew you off so they could spend their time on people with actual problems.

No, I mean, you literally cannot talk to them unless you're a contractor. I didn't even get to the point of speaking to a person!

Check this out:
Call (800)-828-4328 (their only support number)
Press 1 for USA/Canada
Press 1 for USA
Press 3 for Homeowner Support (Note that 2 is specifically for Contractor Support)
"Installation and service of ALL modine heating products require a qualified heating contractor."

Then you are directed to their website to find a contractor and routed back to the call tree.

Edit: After all the dozens of threads I've read through here (which have been amazing, thank you to everyone) I am a bit mystified how I hadn't seen this talked about anywhere before.

 

[4x4Pete]

Can you install it and pay a local gas fitter to do an inspection and fill out the documentation to appease Modine?

 

[woodfirenewbie]

Good idea. Might just have to do that. Hanging, venting, tstat and electrical are all DIY-able but I will need a gas fitter either way. Going to try calling some local plumbers tomorrow.

 

[ripperd]

Who cares about the warranty, if you have to pay $2-3k for it, on a $860 unit?

I got my beacon morris 45k from menards in 2018, something like $450. They are made by sterling.

 

[gmcgeo]

I mean the 10 year is for the combustion chamber anyway, you get what 5 years on most everything else. and i think they may have changed now 2 years for electrical

 

[D45]

Do it yourself

Easy and straightforward install

Vertical or horizontal vent?

I installed mine for under $1,000 and that included a brand new HD 75k unit

 

[D45]

You already have the line ran to the garage and already have all the items needed for install.......do it all yourself

 

[woodfirenewbie]

Progress has been made! Local HVAC company <1 mile away agreed to finish the gas connections, make the final calibrations, and hand over a receipt claiming ownership of the entire install, so long as I do everything else correctly myself. Charging time & materials only. Thanks for the suggestion @4x4Pete

I was planning on mounting and hanging it with unistrut, but they had a quick sling on hand that I purchased as a sign of goodwill. Finishing up this mounting block to attach to the exterior and soon we'll have the hardest part out of the way!

 

[martinguptill]

I will agree to him . I mean the 10 year is for the combustion chamber of Cambridge heating and cooling anyway, you get what 5 years on most everything else. and i think they may have changed now 2 years for electrical.

 

[woodfirenewbie]

Things are coming along nicely! Flipped the switch and got a green light, best feeling EVER

 

[Dave Carney]

Looking good. Not sure if wasps are an issue where you are but here they are. They would fly through vent and into the unit to build a nest that stopped the power vent fan from turning. After fixing that, for years I covered the exhaust outlet outside with window screen material and a bungee cord in the off season. But it doesn't look too good so later I inserted stainless hardware cloth in the vent outlet. Can't recall what size but it's just small enough to block the wasps but not small enough to create any noticeable back pressure. That's worked great for a long time now.

 

[ripperd]

Hard to tell from your pic, but how close is that exhaust from the vented soffit? You do NOT want exhaust hitting that soffit or the building, it will condense and frost and melt and cause water damage. And be a CO risk.

 

[rawen2]

Off topic, but In the first picture in post #13 above where did you get those shelf brackets?

 

[woodfirenewbie]

Off topic, but In the first picture in post #13 above where did you get those shelf brackets?

Wall standards | Shelf brackets | Shelving

Hard to tell from your pic, but how close is that exhaust from the vented soffit? You do NOT want exhaust hitting that soffit or the building, it will condense and frost and melt and cause water damage. And be a CO risk.

Thanks, it's about 2" beyond the soffit, so I think it will be OK, but I have the same concern. Might need to swap the 12" piece before the termination to an 18", but will be keeping an eye on it (line of sight from bedroom window)

 

[woodfirenewbie]

It's done! Gas fitter came today and hooked everything up, ran the gas line beside the EMT along the wall. By doing most of the install myself, I know it was done correctly, the experience was priceless, and shaved $2,000 off the prices we were quoted to have it done for us.

Thank you to all for your expertise (and encouragement )! Stay warm this winter! Next is going to be cutting and installing PVC baseboards with this handy economical 4x8 sheet. And the projects continue........

 

[gmcgeo]

Great job

 

[rawen2]

Wall standards | Shelf brackets | Shelving

Thanks woodfirenewbie!

 

[toyotadriver]

Nice!! Enjoy the nice warm, dry heat!! I remember as a kid working on things in my unheated and very drafty garage. I moved up to a garage with a vent free kerosene torpedo heater and thought things were great. But, I was having issues with excess moisture. I finally got a vented heater and life in the shop has never been better!

 

[roblouvasz]

What type of gas line is that?

 

[gmcgeo]

What type of gas line is that?

I see conduit, i do not see a gas line in the pic

 

[gmcgeo]

What type of gas line is that?

i see it now, Thats is Trac-pipe with L type copper

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